As part of the greater advocacy work that Justice For Abdirahman has been engaging in, the team has liaised with the City of Ottawa who have reminded us of an opportunity for Somali Youth. We have been able to secure space at the Hilda Building – 55 Hilda to hold a last minute intake session for youth living in the Hilda building for the City of Ottawa/ University Of Ottawa’s Youth Futures Program. Note any youth living in Ottawa can attend on Wednesday.

This intake day will be held on Wednesday January 11th from 6pm-8:00pm. We would like to connect with all eligible youth living in the Hilda building through Nimao Ali and anyone else. Please let all youth you know to drop by the community room!

Background:
The Youth Futures program is funded, in part by the City of Ottawa’s Housing and Poverty Reduction Investment Plan, and is intended for high school students, aged 16-21, from low-income families and communities.

This is a youth employment program in which the City countered with our point that Somali youth are facing structural barriers to entering the City for employment.

While this does not satisfy our desire to intentionally work to end systemic racism, please note that we want to ensure Somali / Racialized youth receive this opportunity.

We ask that you do the following:

Promote this program to all eligible youth in your life

Connect youth to service providers (on the flyer) or to Wednesday January 11th’ Intake Session at the Hilda Building

If you are referring youth to Wednesday’s intake day, please let them know that volunteers will help them apply to the program by helping them with their statements of interests

Please note all youth who apply to program and email Faduma at fy.yusuf@gmail.com. So we may advocate for youth by connecting with the coordinator of the program

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About Us

In early August of 2016, a cross-sectional representation of the Ottawa Somali community met to have candid and reflective discussions concerning the issues surrounding the death of Abdirahman Abdi. Following the tragic death of Abdirahman Abdi, the Somali community met to mourn and grieve the loss of a fellow community member. Members of the community were deeply troubled by possibility that such a death could occur. As such, many in attendance that evening reconvened to form a group dedicated to seeking justice for Abdirhman and to ensure that such incidents never repeat themselves again. Thus, the Justice for Abdirahman campaign was formed.